Social Security Disability Benefits for Obesity

The Social Security Administration (SSA) lists obesity as a complex and chronic condition due to excessive body fat. If your body mass index (BMI) is 30 or more, you are considered obese. Morbid obesity is defined as anyone with a BMI over 40.

If you are obese or morbidly obese, that alone won’t qualify you for disability benefits. You must show your obesity leads to conditions in the SSA’s special set of rules or that because of your obesity, you you’re unable to work.

Social Security’s rule recognize many conditions are affected by obesity, like:

Heart disease

Diabetes

Sleep apnea

Arthritis

Basically, the SSA will look at your obesity to see if, if your situation leaves you unable to work. If so, you should be eligible for disability benefits.

Winning Disability Benefits for Obesity is Complex

Because the SSA removed obesity from its special rules in 1999, winning a case for obesity is no longer as straightforward as it once was. If obesity plays an important role in why you are no longer able to work, you should consider getting help from a disability attorney.

A disability lawyer, like one from Nash Disability Law, can look at your claim for benefits from top to bottom to learn how obesity limits your ability to work. Working with medical experts, a lawyer can form a case to show how your obesity (and any other important conditions you have) should qualify you for disability benefits.

You should know that most people who apply for disability benefits are denied. But, if you are denied, you can appeal your case to an Administrative Law Judge. Most cases are won when presented before an ALJ, but you must be prepared. You will need to gather all of your medical evidence and work history evidence to prove to the judge that you can no longer work because of your obesity and/or other conditions.

Winning your case on appeal is complicated. If you were denied, you should call an attorney from Nash Disability Law. Once you receive a denial letter, you only have 60 days to appeal so don’t wait to call us. In fact, you should not wait to be denied to call us – we can help you file your application.

If Your Obesity, Along with Other Medical Conditions, Has Caused You to Stop Working, Contact Us

The SSA realized that there are many health conditions associated with obesity. If you are obese and have any other health issues, call us.

We know how obesity, particularly when couple with other health issues, can affect your life and make it impossible for you to work – we want to help you get the Social Security Disability benefits you need. Call us today to get started.

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Disclaimer: I agree that by contacting you that no client-lawyer relationship has been created. The information that I provide will not be kept confidential. The information on this website is general information and does not constitute legal advice and the reader should not rely on it to solve their individual problem.